Mine-car coupler



Nov. 6 1923.

1,472,990 F. L. PEART ET Al.

MINE CAR COUPLER Filed April '7, 1922 Patented ilov. d, 1923.

EREDERiCK L. PEART Arm HARRY Er. JONES, or DENVER, ooLonnno.

MINE-CAR couPLEnL' Application filed April 7, 1922. Serial m. 550,450.

To all "who 12bit may concern: 7

Be it known that we, FREDERICK L. PEART end HARRY M. J owns, citizens ofthe United States, residin at Denver, county of Denver, State ofolorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMine-Car-Couplers; and we do hereby declare'the following to be afull, clear,and exact description of the invention,such as will enf able othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. Thisinvention relates to'car couplers and particularly to a coupler for usein connec tion with light railway rolling stock, such as mine cars andthe like.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a device ofthe character indicated which will be simple in operation andconstruction, cheap to manufacture owing to its size and lightness ofweight, yet at the same time, one that will not accidentally becomedisengaged or uncoupled under working conditions.

Another object which will be apparent, is its ease of application andsafety to the operator when coupling or uncoupling said device, as itrequires only one hand to perform these operations, thus distinguishingfrom the previous types necessitating generally the use of both hands.In using one hand the operator has only the thickness of his shouldersbetween the cars,which thickness is less than the clearance usuallyallowed by bumpers on said cars, whereas with the ordinary couplers,necessitating the use of both hands. there is subjected the width ofboth shoulders to the liability of a squeeze between the cars.

To these ends the invention comprises a coupler bar, preferably fiat atits forward end and having a vertical opening therethrough, said bar tobe attached to one car, and a cooperating coupler unit adapted to beattached by a flexible connection with an adjacent car, sa-id couplerunit preferably being made as a forging or casting substantiallyZ-shaped in side elevation, comprising a head section provided with atransverse eye and a substantially flat base, a vertical leg projectingdownwardly from the base and a rearwardly extending horizontal leg, theseveral parts of the unit being so constructed and arranged that whenthe rearward angular extensions, comprising the legs aforesaid. arepassed through the opening in the bar the coupling elements will besecurely interlocked automatically, by the head unit dropping to asubstantially horizontal position so that the base of the head engagesthe top of the bar and the upper face of the rearwardly extending legengages the bottom of the bar-and the intermediate vertical leg isengaged in the opening ofthe bar.

tion is illustrated in drawings in which:

Fig.v 1 is a view illustrating the coupler unit suspended from one endof a car like in inoperative position.

the accompanying Fig. 2 is a view in sideelevation showing Referring tothe drawings vin detail the;

device, as-a whole, comprises a coupler unit The preferred embodiment ofthe inven-' or the I igs. 5 are end and bottomviews, respec j" 1 ofsubstantially reverse'Z shape, a coop} crating coupling bar-2 carried byone end of a car, and a chain or similar flexible member 3 connectingthe coupler unit 1 with the ad joining car by a shackle or the'like 4,secured to an appropriate member 5, of said adjacent car. p

The coupler unit 1- comprises a head section 6 preferably having a flatbase, a lower horizontal leg 7 and a connecting intermediate portion 8,which lower leg portion 7 and intermediate portion 8 are adapted to beinserted in an opening 9, of the proper shape and size to receive theseparts, formed. in the outer end of the coupling bar 2. The head 6 of thecoupler unit 1 is provided with a transverse opening or eye 10, toreceive one end of a connecting chain or the like 2. The upper leg orhead 6 is also provided with a ring or the like 11 by which the couplerunit 1 and associating chain 3 can be suspended. in inoperative positionat the end of the car by a. hook or the like 12.

In manipulating the device, when it is desired to couple one or morecars together. said cars are moved into proper position. so that thenecessary slack can behad in the connecting chain 3 or the like. topermitthe lower leg 7 and the intermediate portion 8 of the couplingunit 1 to be inserted vertically downwardly into and through the opening9 of the coupling bar carried by the adjacent car, to be followed by acantand lower leg portions. 6 and. 7., respectively, will assume ahorizontal position, ,whi'ch position will normally be maintained by thecoupler unit owing to the fact that the upper leg 6 is larger andheavier than the lower leg portion and in addition carries the weight ofthe connecting chain 3'. Under working conditions, as soon asra stressis put on the coupling device this function willgbe augmented. and atthe. same time. the lower leg. portion. 7-, will be. forced up againstthebottom. of the coupling, bar 2iv From the above it. will be notedthat the device will. not be disengaged. or uncoupled accidentally underworking conditions, irrespectiye of. whether the said devicevisstressed, or a certain amount of slack occurs in theconnecting chainTo. uncouple the device it. only necessary toobtain the desired slacksufficient to permit the: coupler unit. 1 to be=- moved to. a verticalposition whereupon. an. upward movement thereof will withdraw said unitfrom the coupling.

tion provides a very simple yet practical and effective couplingarrangement in 0perationand construction, for use in connection withcars or the like of the type indicated.

What we claim is 1. A coupler for mine cars and the like comprising abar having an opening therein, and a cooperating coupling unit includinga head and downward and rearwardextension from the head adapted toengage and. interlock within: the opening of said ban 2.. A coupler formine cars and the like comprising a bar having an openingtherein, and acooperating coupling unit including a headhay-in'g an eye therein and a.Hat. bottom. and. downward and rearward extensions from the headadapted; to engage. and interlock within the opening of; said ban.

3.. A. coupler for mine cars. and the like comprising a bar ha ing;amopeningtherein, a cooperating coupling unit including a head anddownward. and rearward extensions fromv the head: adapted. to engage andinterlock. within the. opening of. said. bar,

and. a flexible draft member connected. to said head.

In. testimony whereof wev ailix our signatures.

FREDERICK L. PEART. HARRY M. JON ES;

